Interview C.R. Robertson Author of Dragons of Fate
Give a warm welcome to CR Robertson, author of Dragons of Fate.
I love dragons, and this series is dedicated to dragons who live in the underrealm deep within the earth’s core. There is also an underlying message about the destruction of the planet, which I think is something we all need to think about as the legacy of our generation.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
Music!! I turn up the volume and let the sound wash over me. At some point there will be a word or phrase that speaks to me about the story, and I start typing again.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
I loved writing Ethan’s character from The Otherworld Chronicles. He went on the biggest journey and got away with speaking his mind. He would be the character I would have the most fun being friends with in the real world. Out of all my characters, I think he probably has the most of my personality in him.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
Only a close circle of family and friends know that I write, everyone else just thinks I’m an avid reader. Mum was the first to know, followed by my brother and it trickled from there. It was the hardest experience in the world to hand over my first manuscript to let my mum read it. She’s the first to go through all my rough drafts and harder to please than my editor some days… Somebody needs to take her red pen away!!
A sneak peek between the pages of dragons of Fate!
I spun, my tail knocking people across the room to snarl at my father. My wing descended to protect Evanora. There was no way anyone was taking her, they’d have to go through me first. I crouched low to pounce. Andreas studied my reaction to the threat, his eyes widening at all the revelations today.
Evanora squirmed from under my wing and stood in front of me, her hand on my chest. “I think I can handle this.” She prowled in front of me like a threatened tigress protecting her mate.
She snapped her fingers, and the elders levitated above the stage. Her right arm flung high in the air, and the emerald guards flew across the room by an invisible wind that herded them all in the corner beside Ruben.
Several of them tried to run, but the golden dragons cut off their escape route. A few emerald guards transformed into their dragons. Ruben leapt on one, his talons tearing through its protective scales as if they were nothing more than fine silk. His teeth tore the throat out of another.
A green dragon launched itself towards Evanora, and I pounced on it. My talons eviscerated it, his flesh steaming from the toxin Evanora had infused there to fight against the krakens. I’d never killed another Gaian—until recently I would have believed it was blasphemy—yet I never gave it a second thought because he had attacked my mate.
Ruben advanced on the others with murder in his amber gaze. They had attacked his mate, and I had no doubt every single emerald guard would suffer the force of his wrath for their actions. Panicked energy filled the air, and screams followed as more dragons emerged to try and fly to the doors at the top of the staircase. Some used their talons to climb the walls.
Ruben didn’t miss a beat. He rained fire on them, turning them all into heaps of steaming ash. The ferocious heat permeated the room, and every Gaian took a step back from the black death dragon.
The smell turned my stomach, and I tried not to breathe to limit my exposure to it. The cooking flesh reminded me of a dark fae party where they roasted whole pigs over open fires. Suddenly, turning vegetarian seemed like a good idea.
“You!” Evanora’s finger pointed directly at Cyrus. “Are a monster from the depths of hell.” She took slow deliberate steps towards him.
He swallowed and furtively looked to the side, taking a few steps back. The coward was searching for somewhere to escape to. He tried to lift his foot, but he seemed to be stuck where he stood. Apparently, he could only be brave if he had his women helpless due to a dragon suppressing collar.
Sensing the situation was under control, I returned to my human form. Ruben appeared at my side. He snapped his fingers, and we were both clothed in black.
With each flick of her wrist, lashes appeared on Cyrus’ body until he fell to his knees, his clothes in tatters. Evanora rubbed her hands together in a circular motion. His skin began to melt and peel down his body like a candle under the intensity of her stare.
“Even as you forgot them, I remember every one of their names, every terrified young girl you tried to impregnate with your evil spawn. Cyrus of the green dragons, I curse you from this day hence. You shall not rest in the afterlife but spend eternity in the realms of purgatory to experience the pain and suffering you have caused to others. Their agony will be yours, your body violated with their rapes, their torment only yours to bear.”
A BOOM shook the chamber, forming a crack across the ceiling. Wails sounded all around us before a black shimmering vortex appeared behind Cyrus. Shadow hands grasped his limbs and dragged him screaming into the darkness.
Stunned silence filled the room. Ruben’s hand grasped my arm, his eyes wide in alarm at what we’d just witnessed.
Evanora dusted her hands off and placed them on her hips. “Now what should I do with the elders who sanction rape, torture, and murder?”
Fuck that I was annoyed with her. I’d never seen anything more magnificent than Evanora go on a murderous spree. Her hair had a life of its own, moving around her as magic coursed through her. She took beauty into a different league.
I wanted her more now than ever before. She no longer looked frail and ready to break; her curves were accentuated in the deep purple gown that hugged every inch of her. When she released her magic, I swore I could see dark writing under her pale skin.
Evanora clicked her fingers, and the elders dropped to the ground, scrambling to get back on their feet. She chanted words from an ancient language that I didn’t understand. Energy pulsed towards the stage from the four directions of the wind, which Evanora summoned.
“Your dragons are bound inside you, unable to be released until the day you prove yourselves worthy to be a Gaian once more. You are nothing more than human, trapped in a realm that you can no longer leave,” she said. Her voice sounded remote and devoid of emotion.
Magic manifested in the air in a green mist. It twisted and swirled around the elders, stripping away their elder marks from their wrists. Evanora stalked through them, examining every single one of them until she seemed happy that they were bound by her enchantment.
“Next time you consider touching my mate, I would think again,” she hissed at them before strutting down from the stage. I’d never been more turned on in my life from her display of dominance.
“It’s time to go home.” Evanora opened a portal, indicating that Ruben and Justus leave through it.
My eyes met Andreas’. He nodded to let me know he would take care of everything.
Evanora grabbed my hand, and the world tilted off its axis for a few seconds before we re-materialised in my house.
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/author/crrobertson
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged CR Robertson, Dragons of Fate, magic, Paranormal Romance, The Gaian Otherworld Series by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
HEARTS & CHOCOLATE ROMANCE GIVEAWAY!
Happy Valentine’s Month! Who doesn’t love Chocolate? HEARTS & CHOCOLATE ROMANCE GIVEAWAY!
16 Fab Prize Packs! 16 Chances to Win, Feb 1-18!
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Click on cover to read more or purchase!
Speaking of Romance….A perfect Valentine’s Day gift – AND its on sale for 99 Cents AN ANGELS UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT, a finalist in PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD’S REVIEWERS BEST OF 2018! WooHoo! Grab your copy today!
A LITTLE ABOUT AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT:
Fallen warrior angel, Caden Silverwind, lives alone in Colorado’s rugged Rockies, healing from physical wounds as well as the mental anguish suffered during battles with dark demons. Then he finds a woman barely clinging to life after a horrendous beating. He is not prepared for the entanglement she brings to his life, nor the feelings she awakens in him.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Agent, Mystic Rayne’s personal dilemma and assignment nearly gets her killed. Divine intervention is a complication she never expected and her growing attraction to Caden is undeniable. Can she trust him with her secret?
Their quest to uncover her attacker takes them from the pristine mountains in Colorado to the wilds of Wyoming. Along the way, they find answers which may place them in more danger. Determined to solve the mystery, they must also navigate their feelings and fears to find love and unite heaven and earth.
A SNEAK PEEK BETWEEN THE PAGES OF AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT!
Dislodged rocks and sticks bounced down the path ahead of him as he stopped to admire the view and noticed something in the brush.
She lay naked, battered, and beaten several yards off the trail. Her long, straight black hair fanned around her head, tangled with twigs and bits of grass. Caden moved silently toward her, stopped, and picked up a Bureau of Indian Affairs ID a few feet from where she lay. He stuffed it in his pocket while watching the surrounding area for signs of her attackers. Kneeling down at her side, he saw scratches and bruises on her high-sculpted cheekbones and her full lips had a shading of blue around them. He placed his hand lightly on her chest, felt a weak heartbeat and sensed a brave soul unwilling to give up. God, this is the last thing I need.
Summoning medical help here was futile. The altitude at 12,092 feet, combined with rocky terrain, made it difficult for most rescue vehicles. They’d be too late to save her. He slid his hands under her body. At his touch, a scene unfolded in his mind of snarling wolves, the valiant fight she waged against a male until she was too weak to defend herself any longer, then blackness. Anger surged through him as he carried her along the rocky path to the fifth wheel trailer he called home.
Happy up coming VALENTINE’S DAY! AN ANGEL’S UNINTENTIONAL ENTANGLEMENT makes a great Valentine’s Day gift!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged An Angel's Unintentional Entanglement, Angels, Chocolate, Demons, Hearts, magic, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Valentines Day, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
A Warlock’s Secrets – From the Beginning
Happy Sunday! Today we are talking about A WARLOCK’S SECRETS, the second book in A Demon’s Witch Series. A DEMON’S WITCH SERIES is nominated in the category ROMANCE-PARANORMAL-FANTASY-DEMONS & DEVILS & ANGELS – SERIES by the Paranormal Romance Guild’s Reviewers Best of 2018! Squeal!! If you are inclined to vote for A DEMON’S WITCH SERIES, here is the link – https://www.paranormalromanceguild.com/2018-prg-reviewers-choice-award-nominees/ I would appreciate you vote!
A Warlock’s Secrets wasn’t a planned part of A Witch’s Series. It came to fruition after several readers and a couple of reviewers asked or assumed Tristian’s story was next in the Demon’s Witch Series.
In truth, I’d never considered writing Tristian’s story. He was the Demon Overlords enforcer/assassin, for heaven’s sake. The hardest part of writing this book was wrapping my head around who Tristian really was and what he wanted out of life. He challenged me at every turn of the story. After delving into who he really is and what he wants, come to find out, he has a strong moral compass. He basically is the paranormal police for the Western Hemisphere. Enforcement is necessary to keep a balance between mortals and creatures which he learned young due to the death of his parents and having to raise his little sister. When love comes his way he is fiercely protective and everything Hannah is looking for in a forever relationship. A Warlock’s Secrets, second book in the Demon’s Witch Series. Join in the adventure and grab your copy today! Available worldwide at Amazon,Kobo, Barnes& Noble, itunes, Walmart.com and The Wild Rose Press. If you’re in the United Kingdom, Amazon UK, or Australia, Amazon.AU. or Canada Amazon CA.
Often I’ve been asked why I write paranormal romance. Since I was old enough to read, I loved being swept away into a fantasy. Whether is was a trip to Mars, pretending I could wield magic with the characters in a book, or chasing a unicorn across the backyard only to find myself face to face with a vampire, my imagination ran wild with the written word. As I got older, if I didn’t like a part of the book or the way a story ended, I’d rewrite it. Oh what adventures Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew had under my rewritten sections. LOL
Now I hope to encourage readers to leave your ordinary world behind for a few hours… be swept away into a magical romantic fantasy with a touch of mystery and suspense. It’s good for the soul and stress relieving to suspend reality for a while, whether you are reading or writing novels. <grin>
Click on the cover to read more or purchase!
A Little about A WARLOCK’S SECRETS – Years ago, a sacred ceremony at the Dragon’s Moon Coven turned deadly. Son of the high priestess, Tristian Shandie’s life changed forever. With a price on his head and revenge in his heart, he has no choice but to follow in his father’s footsteps to a profession shrouded in secrets. Now his skills as an enforcer for the Demon Overlord are second to none. But dangerous secrets he harbors are a liability he can no longer afford.
A chance meeting with a woman he finds irresistible flips Tristian’s world upside down. Hannah is a cyber security specialist with secrets of her own. Bad boys never appealed to her until Tristian, who changes everything. In his darkest hours, she is dragged into his magical world.
If they survive, is she strong enough to heal his heart and tame the warlock? Or will their secrets destroy them?
A peek between the pages of A WARLOCK’S SECRETS:
And her body was never found… She shook her head to dislodge the voice from her mind and followed Tristian to the trail. He took hold of her hand and intertwined their fingers as they walked the rocky coastline until the trail wound through the brush and trees down to the beach. Waves crashed against the shoreline, and wind gusts brought the ocean spray raining down on them. The sun hung low in the sky as she pulled her jacket tight around her.
The man was a puzzle. One minute he’s gruff and unresponsive, the next patient, attentive, and talkative. It’s like he’s at war with himself. Damn he’s intriguing and—sexy as hell. She liked the air of mystery surrounding him. If she was honest with herself, the hint of danger that lurked around him was a turn on too. Ma and Da would not approve. She snickered.
“What’s so funny?” Tristian stopped in mid-stride and stared at her.
“Oh, nothing. Just that my attraction to bad boys is alive and well. My parents…”
He quirked an eyebrow. “Boys? I don’t think so. Your parents?”
“Wouldn’t approve of you.” She snickered again. “And I used the term boys loosely, meaning males.” Her gaze slithered over him from top to bottom. “Believe me, I’m well aware you’re not a boy.”
“I’m certainly glad you noticed.” He paused for a couple beats. “Your parents—does it matter?” he asked sliding a seductive glance in her direction.
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Thank you for joining me for a little peek into A WARLOCK’S SECRETS and my inspiration to write it. See you next week for my inspiration for A VAMPIRE’S UNLIKELY ALLIANCE, voted Best Paranormal Romance of 2017′ by Preditor’s & Editor’s Readers Choice Awards!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Warlock's Secrets, magic, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Tena Stetler, Vampire, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview with Sara E. Tall Author of Misfit’s Rise
I had a theater teacher in high school that always talked about the power art has to change people’s lives. I modified something he said into my mantra, “To serve Art, and not be served by Art.” The arts—in all of their forms— have saved my life in a lot ways, even if it was just enjoying a fantasy world or a compelling romance. I want to give back to the arts, or use them to serve and help others the way the arts helped me. The same could be said about me as a person. Though my life has not be easy, and there have been difficult and dark moments, it has been full and rewarding as well. I want to help others experience that same fullness, even if it’s as simple as making them laugh or cry or cheer at something I wrote.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
A good 90% of my stories come from dreams I’ve had. So much so that I actually look forward to sleeping because I’m so excited to dream. As soon as I wake up I grab a notebook and write down everything I can remember. Then I spend the whole day figuring out how my weird and nonsensical dream can actually be a story. Usually there’s a scene or feeling that’s so compelling I can’t get it out of my head, and I build the rest of the story around that. The problem is now I have a like a million story ideas, and only so many years before I’m too old to write.
My current novel, Misfit’s Rise, didn’t come from a dream originally, though I have had dreams about it. I created Misfit’s Rise when I was nanny and the kids were sleeping. Those kids are some of the most creative people I’ve ever met, so I’m sure they inspired the story with more than just their sleeping habits.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
DANCE!!!! No seriously, anyone who knows me will tell you I like to dance at the most inappropriate times: at work, in the grocery store, in the street, etc…. Dancing is my go-to when I’m procrastinating writing. I also love being outdoors. Hiking, canoeing, swimming, skiing. All these experiences are as close to magic as I am going to get. One of these days I’m going to make volunteer work a big part of my life, but I’m not that organized yet.
You’ve got a time machine, a cloak of invisibility, and one hour. Where would you go, and what eavesdropping would you do?
As soon as I saw this question I knew I had to answer it, even though I had no idea what I should say. I debated overhearing supposed conversations my male friends had about me, since I’m super curious about what went down, but I decided I was better living in ignorance. Then I thought about overhearing some super infamous person in history, trying to get insights into why they did the awful things they did. But once again, I decided it was best to just live in ignorance. Eventually I decided on Ancient Greece during the Greco-Persian war, to witness the battle between the Spartans and the Persian “Immortals.” Essentially, the battle that inspired the move 300. It’s always been fascinated with that battle. I’ve actually got an idea for a re-telling of the Greco-Persian war in space, but that is way down the line. I’m not sure how much eavesdropping I would do, but the invisibility cloak would help make sure I didn’t skewered in the process.
“There’s the little fire freak.” My eyes shot open. Standing before me was Tanya with her usual wannabes. She was dressed in her predictable mixture of bad-girl-meets-prep, wearing the pigtails only she could pull off as chic and not goody two-shoes.
“What’s the matter? Nothing to say to me?” She stepped forward. “Not even an apology for blowing up my house?”
“Not really.” People always said if you didn’t let bullies get to you, they’d get bored and move on. It was time to put that to the test.
“When did you become an arsonist, anyway?” she took another step. “Was it to deal with your dad leaving you in that ghetto with all the other freaks?”
“My father didn’t leave,” I snapped before I could stop myself. “He’s dead.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s what your mom told you.” She was right in front of my face now. “But we all know if your daddy was dead, you would have gotten a nice life insurance check and you wouldn’t be so dirt poor.”
At different time I might have laughed at that. I guess it didn’t occur to Tanya not everyone could afford a life insurance policy.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as I leapt off the bench and shoved my way past her.
“I’m trying to help you, Billie,” she said from behind me. “You and your friends. I know it can be hard coming from nothing.”
Even though I knew I should just keep walking, I whirled around. “You don’t know a thing about us.”
“You know what the number one profession is for girls from low-income neighborhoods?”
The people around us gasped, though the ones trying to look cool laughed. I was almost impressed with Tanya for being that subtle.
I glanced at her Prada bag, my hand twitching. It would be so easy to just rip that thing open. And it would be a lot better than she deserved. But the Officials had told me not to use magic, and I had a feeling my ability to follow their order would affect whether they sent me to the Academy, or to a containment facility.
Slowly, I turned around again. “I’m not listening to you.”
“You and tall-chick might be able to make it, but the chubby one? What guy would pay for a night with that?”
There was more laughter, but I barely heard it as I whirled around and screamed, “Shut up!”
Everything happened too fast. All I knew was that one moment I was glaring at Tanya, breathing hard while she folded her arms and smirked; and the next second the tall, marble centerpiece from the fountain was hurtling toward Tanya’s head.
She screamed and ducked, and the marble spiral crashed down just behind her shoulder. Even though it missed her, it still drenched her and her bag with a splash of murky, icy water.
For a second nobody moved, as everyone’s eyes moved from Tanya, to the wrecked fountain, to me.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Misfit’s Rise!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Alpha book 1, Fae, magic, Misfits Rise, Sara E. Tall, YA Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
